Thoughts on Speed Reading Courses?

Has anyone done any speed reading courses and do they work?

I am thinking of enrolling myself in one to better prepare myself for GMAT test.
I am hoping to obviously increase my reading speed, also to make myself more focused and an active reader.

 

Cool,how fast are you talking 'er' reading

 

Speed reading can be good but it generally means to skim the surface of the material snatching keywords as you go and conceptually piecing the work together. I beleive it really depends upon the importance and level of the material you are reading and how much retention is necassary, for instance complex genetics don't do it as you'll be wasting your time but high school maths go for it. At uni I had to speed read certain materials just due to the sheer volume but found I only had a conceptual and basic understanding of the subject in comparison to reading slower and absorbing it more readily (although longer the later method's understanding and absorbtion was far greater and therefore retention and recall was significantly higher). I would also make flash cards, keyword one side answer on reverse (white cardboard about buisness card size) and while I was slowly reading and transcribing onto cards absorbtion was greatest but later could always whip out my flash cards anywhere and anytime and test and refresh my recall and retention. This method worked best for myself and would ensure higher exam results. My 2c.

 

I think Bold Eagle hit it best. If you're a slow reader, and have trouble comprehending what you're reading, a good course can improve that, as they work both on speed and comprehension. BUT, they don't help with basic spelling and vocabulary. If you haven't got that down pat, you need more than a speed reading course to polish them up.

BUT. Reading and initial comprehension doesn't improve your memory and retention of what you're reading. Years ago I read study results that a person generally retains about 25% or what he reads, but about 85% of what he's involved with and working with. Just reading doesn't lock it into long-term memory. Making and using flash cards, doing homework assignments, writing reports, summaries, and notes, talking about it and testing yourself all help actually lock the knowledge into memory, and there's no shortcut to eliminate the work needed to memorize. "Use it or lose it" is a very appropriate cliche here.

LOL. I really upset my 8th grade English teacher. He took the (then brand new, back in the '60s) Evelyn Woods Speed Reading Course over the summer, and intended to teach us kids some of the speed reading techniques to help us. First he gave us a speed reading test to grade speed and comprehension, and intended to do another test after teaching us his new-found techniques to see how much they helped us. On his initial test, I scored over 950 words/minute with 94% comprehension. He grumbled that if I had slowed down some I would have comprehended better. LOL. I started reading for fun in 4th grade, and had been devouring books ever since, year round, and had intuitively been using some of his "techniques" already.